Banbridge hosts only surviving indoor full band event

Pipe Bands by Mervyn McConnell

26 pipe bands competed last Saturday at the Banbridge
Indoor Full Bands competition held in Banbridge High School, in what is
the only surviving indoor full band event to take place in the pipe band
world.

Claiming the first spoils of the 2009 season in Grade
2 was Ravara under Pipe Major Sam Connolly. Runner up place went to
Killeen who also took the best drum corps award.

These are two excellent bands and competition will be
strong between them for the rest of the season. Third place went to
Southern band Arklow. Bands from Co. Donegal had a very successful day
out when they claimed first place in Grades 4B, 4A and 3B.
Manorcunningham were the winners in 3B with Letterkenny & District in 4A
and Thiepval Memorial in 4B.

Pipe Major Glen Ferry led his band Aughintober to
victory in Grade 3A, with their new Leading Drummer Chris Johnston,
formally of St. Laurence O'Toole and ex leading tip of Ballycoan,
securing top honours for the band by winning best drum corps.
Adjudicators were L. Ingram and Denver Cardwell for piping, Alan
Ronaldson for Ensemble and Adrian Hoy for drumming.

The first of the local outdoor competitions will take
place on Saturday May 9 with the Co. Tyrone championships held at
Dungannon Rugby Club.

Then on Saturday May 16 the Scottish Championships
will be held in Levengrove Park, Dumbarton and many of our pipe bands
will travel over to compete at this the first of the five majors of
2009.

May 23 is the date for the East Antrim championships
which will take place in Ballyclare, and the last of the May events will
be the Co. Fermanagh competition on May 30 at the Lakeland Forum
Broadmeadow Enniskillen.

The 36th annual RSPBA County Antrim pipe band and
drum major championships sponsored by Carrickfergus Borough Council will
be held on Saturday June 6 in Woodburn Playing Fields Carrickfergus
commencing at 12 noon.

Entries close on Tuesday May 19 and bands will be
notified in writing of the draw number and approximate time of play.
Forms should be sent to Mrs Elyse Ussher, 4 Temple Road Upper
Ballinderry, Lisburn BT28 2PD.

As well as the pipe band and drum majors competition
there will be a range of activities for all the family running in
parallel with the competition.

The 55th annual Mid-Ulster championships will take
place on Saturday June 13 in Cookstown High School Sports arena with all
grades, as well as drum majors, competing for the top prizes.

Entries close on Saturday May 23 and please note that
entries will only be accepted by post.

The draw will be made on Wednesday May 27 in the
Royal Hotel Cookstown.. Please post entries to Mrs Gloria Aicken, 11
Locksley Gardens, Finaghy, Belfast. BT1O IDEA.